BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia leaves for London for treatment

Dhaka: On Tuesday night, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia left for London to get medical care. According to the Dhaka Tribune, she boarded a special Royal Air Ambulance sent by the emir of Qatar at 11:46 p.m. from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Along with Khaleda Zia’s medical professionals, family members, and work helpers, a group of Qatari government physicians also traveled with her.

Khaleda Zia was being transported by the Royal Air Ambulance of the Emir of Qatar, which had landed in Dhaka on Monday night at 7:40 p.m. Many BNP officials and activists gathered in the vicinity of her home, Firoza, in Gulshan, to bid her farewell before she left. As early as 7 PM on Tuesday, the throng had begun to gather, excitedly awaiting her departure for medical care. Around 6:15 p.m., BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir arrived in Firoza and urged the crowd to maintain order and get out of the way.

Senior BNP officials have characterized the trip to London as a medical visit rather than a contentious political excursion. They emphasized that Khaleda Zia’s reunion with her family after a lengthy absence and improved medical treatment are the main goals of the visit.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, a top BNP official hoped Khaleda Zia would recover well from her treatment and be prepared to continue leading the party and the nation.

“May she come back to us in good health. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, remarked, “We pray that her treatment is successful.”

At 8 PM, BNP leaders and activists gathered along the way to the airport as she departed her home in Gulshan. The Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP has made a special arrangement to set aside spaces for party officials and activists to congregate. Shamsuddin Didar, the press wing officer for the BNP chairperson, informed the media of Khaleda Zia’s departure.

The 79-year-old former prime minister has been dealing with a number of health conditions, such as renal troubles, heart disease, and liver cirrhosis. She is anticipated to be admitted to the London Clinic for treatment upon her arrival at Heathrow Airport in London on Wednesday, Bangladesh time. This was verified by AZM Zahid Hossain, her personal physician. Party officials, including BNP Standing Committee members and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said goodbye to her at the airport before she left.

There are six members of Khaleda Zia’s medical board traveling with her. Mohammad Al Mamun, Prof. AZM Zahid Hossain, Prof. Nuruddin Ahmed, Prof. Shahabuddin Talukder, Prof. FM Siddique, and Zafar Iqbal make up the team.

Along with a number of personal officials and staff, she is also accompanied by her private secretary, ABM Abdus Sattar; Executive Committee member Tabith Awal; Advisory Council member Enamul Haque Chowdhury; and the wife of her younger son, Syeda Sharmila Rahman, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Khaleda Zia’s family and party are hoping that her treatment will restore her health and allow her to return to her political position. This is her first visit to the UK in over seven years.